Church starts wellness lunches

MILLINOCKET – St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 40 Highland Ave., will begin feeding the bodies and spirits of area residents Saturday when its Wellness Luncheon Program begins.

The monthly luncheons will be held at the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Transportation will be provided to those living in Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway.

The program will include:

. a free meal.

. nutrition education.

. blood pressure checks by nurses.

. a physician to answer health care questions.

. private prayer for spiritual needs.

. fellowship and conversation.

The mission of the program is to “promote, support and to encourage the development of wellness of body, mind, and spirit for all people.”

The Wellness Luncheon Program is a collaboration of the church, local hospital and health care providers, according to the Rev. Robert W. Landry, 54, of East Millinocket, and the deacon at St. Andrew’s.

“My ministry as an Episcopal deacon,” he said Monday, “is to bring the needs and concerns of the world to the church and to encourage the church to go out and do that. We have a great facility there but it doesn’t get used a lot.”

Landry has been working to pull the program together for about three years. Recently, things have come together with a doctor and nurse who are members of the congregation volunteering their services. Parishioners also have volunteered to pick up and take home people who don’t have transportation.

A hospital nutritionist and a diabetes educator will be guest speakers at luncheons this fall, the deacon said. He added that the program is designed to address the social and spiritual needs of people as well as the nutritional and medical.

“For me, I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing as deacon – I’m bringing church to world,” Landry said.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

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